More online Westside Boiler Invasion: boilerinvasion.org West Lafayette Robotics: wlroboticsco.com
Career Coaching and Employer Connections serves our community by partnering with key economic sectors in to deliver demand-driven, student-centric, real-world results.
draws participants from all over Tippecanoe County. Jose Cabral’s company, C&C Diverse Integrations, is one of the team’s biggest sponsors and provides space for the team to meet. The Cabrals are building a designated robotics lab with its own exterior entrance in hopes of growing the program. “I want to have a lot more teams but to do that, we’re going to need more volunteers,” Cabral says. “Jose and I have four children ourselves, so mentoring six teams that meet for an hour each week just isn’t feasible for us. My goal is to provide the tools and the space so that other mentors just need to donate their time to support a team.” Cabral stresses that there’s a role for anyone in FIRST, not just children who express an interest in engineering and technology. It’s about working together to creatively solve problems. “I went to cosmetology school,” Cabral says “My background is the furthest thing from any kind of tech field. I wish I’d had the opportunity to participate in FIRST when I was in high school. It wasn’t until I started attending these competitions that I realized that there is absolutely a place for everybody.” It’s that passion for expressing creativity, working as a team and building excitement around engineering and technology that’s kept Florence involved in FIRST robotics for more than 20 years even into retirement. By 2004, WBI had grown to 75 high school students and 22 college students. Realizing the interest was rapidly outgrowing the practicality of running a single program, he began helping schools all over the region start their own FIRST robotics teams. “These kids are my life,” Florence says. “The inspiration part of FIRST is really key to me. I love to watch them grow and mature and figure out what they’re going to do in life and go on and do great things.” ★
CAREER COACHING AND EMPLOYER CONNECTIONS
Tippecanoe County piled high with cold-weather fun
Winter Break BY CINDY GERLACH PHOTOS PROVIDED
What do the mayors of Lafayette and West Lafayette do when it gets
cold outside? They enjoy the outdoors. West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis hits the hiking trails that surround the city. “I’m kind of an outdoorsy fellah and really enjoy running the trails up and down the 231 corridor that connects State Street and Sagamore Parkway,” Dennis says. “I also really enjoy walking around the trails here in West Lafayette around Happy Hollow Park, and for a road trip we take our grandson to Prophetstown and walk around the trails and paths there. Well, he does the best he can, then he gets a ride on my shoulders when he tires out.” For Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, being outdoors evokes fond memories of his teenage years, when he enjoyed ice skaing at Columbian Park or playing hockey on frozen ponds. These days, like Dennis, he enjoys long outdoor walks. “As I’ve grown older, I really enjoy taking walks in the woods during the winter when all the leaves are off the trees and you can see the topography of the ground easier, and you can see things about the woods that you can’t see with all the leaves and the other brush that’s growing so heavily,” he says. “I also enjoy looking at the various tracks made by different animals. I find it very relaxing.” So, when the weather outside gets frightful, never fear. There is plenty of activity to keep you busy here in Tippecanoe County! Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor pastimes, we’ve got a bevy of ideas to keep you busy until the weather warms up.
Hiking
Mayor Dennis is one of many hiking enthusiasts in the area who have discovered the numerous trails available to traverse. Whether it’s 17 degrees or 70, there are plenty of places to hike. Happy Hollow Park, the former Lafayette City Golf Course and Prophetstown are just a few of the hiking options around town. Clegg Memorial Gardens, the Celery Bog and Armstrong and Munger parks all offer various walking trails, and all at various levels of rigor — whether you’re a novice or a pro, you’ll find a place to walk or hike.
Sledding
If you’re a fan of sledding, you might try either the hill at Murdock Park or the hill behind the old Happy Hollow Elementary School. When covered with snow, both hills offer a thrilling sledding experience.
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